Lessons from a Waiting Room - Martin Wiles

Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD. Psalm 27:14 NLT

My wife and I were once frequent flyers at the local emergency room. On one occasion, my wife had unexpected fluid gain and abdominal pain. Her last visit led to a brief stay in the hospital. My visit involved a minor bleeding issue. 

Although we learned some lessons from waiting in the emergency room, both of us agreed we were sick of going there. But I don’t have to visit an emergency room or even a doctor’s office to experience the benefits of waiting. Life is filled with waiting rooms of various sorts. It was when the psalmist wrote the above words. 

In life’s waiting rooms, I’ve learned things don’t often happen as quickly as I wish. This predicament develops what the psalmist calls patience—a worthy virtue but not one that’s always enjoyable to develop. A typical emergency room stay in our small town is four hours. As much as one hour in the waiting room itself and then three more waiting on doctors and nurses to do what they are going to do. 

Waiting rooms have also taught me that life is unfair. When I see people who don’t have and can’t afford insurance. When I see people who’ve been abused by others or who’ve had crimes committed against them. And when I see people addicted to drugs who are making a visit to get a pain fix. Or when I see bodies mangled by wrecks. 

But waiting rooms should develop compassion in me. When I see and hear about the various conditions that bring people in for emergency care, my heart reaches out to them. I wish I could intervene. I thank God for his grace that has kept me from being in a similar situation.

Additionally, in the waiting room, I learned that unfortunate situations often get better. Yes, some die in the emergency room, but many more are assisted in a way that eventually leads to their healing. Trials have an end, and God determines it. 

Finally, waiting rooms remind me I affect only a few of my life events. God, however, controls them all, and I must trust him with the trial, the length of the trial, and the outcome. 

When life puts you in the waiting room, take time to learn important life lessons. 

Father, give me the faith to trust you when you allow me to spend time in the waiting room. 

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing in eBook or paperback. If you seek hope and healing because of the hurts you have faced, this book is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

The Inbox That Wouldn’t Change - Matthew Musk

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:14 NIV

One afternoon, I found myself checking my email for what felt like the tenth time in an hour. I had submitted several writing pitches and hoped for a response. Deep down, I knew no editor was likely to review my work and reply within fifteen minutes, but that didn’t stop me from refreshing my inbox again. Nothing.

The strange thing is that refreshing the screen made me feel productive, even though it changed absolutely nothing. The answer would come when it came. My repeated checking could not speed it up.

Waiting is one of the most difficult parts of the Christian life. We often think of faith as action, but sometimes faith looks more like patience. We pray for guidance, opportunities, healing, or direction. But then we find ourselves staring at what feels like an empty inbox from heaven.

Yet God’s silence is not God’s absence. The psalmist doesn’t simply tell us to wait. He tells us to be strong and take heart while we wait. That means trusting that God is working even when we cannot see immediate results. Just because a door has not opened today does not mean God has forgotten about tomorrow.

Many of us spend our lives trying to refresh circumstances we cannot control. We revisit worries, replay conversations, and reach for answers that have not yet arrived. In doing so, we sometimes miss the work God is already doing in us through the waiting.

Today, instead of asking, “Why hasn’t God answered yet?” consider asking, “What is God teaching me while I wait?” The opportunity may come. The answer may arrive. The door may open.

Until then, trust the one who sees the whole path, even when you can only see the next step.

Identify one area of your life where you are waiting on God. Spend time thanking him for his faithfulness before you see the answer.

Matthew T. Musk writes about faith, everyday life, and the lessons God teaches in unexpected places. His goal is to encourage readers with practical, relatable insights that point them toward Christ. He lives in Michigan with his family and enjoys writing, reading, and finding wisdom in life’s ordinary moments.

If you seek hope and healing because of hurts you have faced, then Hurt, Hope, and Healing is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

Waiting on God - Abigail Skelton

“Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us.” Judges 6:13 NIV

Do you ever feel like you’re just waiting on God? Perhaps you’ve been waiting for months—even years—praying that someday soon will be the day God chooses to step in and answer prayers with a yes instead of a no. 

Gideon was there, too. When the angel of the Lord showed up for a conversation, Gideon wanted an explanation first. 

To Gideon’s confusion (and probably slight annoyance), the angel of the Lord didn’t answer his questions. But the response has inspired countless sermons and songs throughout generations: “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you” (6:14)? 

The Lord’s solution to Gideon’s problem was Gideon. While our situations are often beyond our ability to change—like the death of a loved one or a natural disaster—sometimes the suffering we see is just a challenge to live for God. Maybe there is a relationship in our life that could use some mending. Perhaps we could help those in our community who are in need. God might call us to step out in courage and solve a problem we’ve been praying about.

Fortunately, the angel of the Lord didn’t just leave Gideon to figure things out alone. He assured Gideon he would be with him. What a promise. 

When God calls you to act—whether you’re saving a kingdom or helping a friend—he will accompany you wherever the journey may lead. 

Abigail Skelton is from beautiful Southern Oregon, where she grew up with an avid love for Jesus, chocolate, and writing. She has lived in three countries while involved in missionary work and frequently travels and studies foreign languages. You can connect with Abigail on her website: https://abigailskelton.com.

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing in eBook or paperback. If you seek hope and healing because of the hurts you have faced, this book is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

People Patience - Martin Wiles

Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Ephesians 4:2 NLT

In the early 1980s, the church where my dad pastored gave him and Mom a microwave oven. Nothing like the present ones, though, in size or weight. As big as a large-screen television, it must have weighed fifty pounds. Although bulky and ugly, it did one thing well: warmed my food quickly. In a matter of seconds or minutes, my food was ready. For an impatient person, this was a gift from God. 

Microwaves are just one item that helps me hem in my impatience. The internet also does. No more going to libraries and spending hours researching information. All the knowledge I need on any subject is at my fingertips—literally.

But if the microwave breaks down or the internet fails, what then? A growing impatience rises in my chest, and I get restless--even angry. Unfortunately, such scenarios aren’t the only things that rouse my impatience. People can try my patience as well. Evidently, I’m not the only one with the problem. Paul instructed early Christians to be patient with each other. Everyone has faults, and sometimes those faults aren’t microwaveable or searchable.

We must learn to be patient with others. Just as I must learn to be content in life’s circumstances, I must also be patient with others. Remembering I’m not perfect myself helps. It’s also beneficial to remember that God created different personalities in people. I’m Type A, so getting along with other Type A’s is easy. But not everyone is a Type A. Type Bs are probably more prevalent. Their approach to life helps balance out those of us who are Type A.

When we allow God to help us develop patience with others, we give a good example for others to follow. Our patience demonstrates love. We don’t have to agree with everyone—nor do they with us—for us to love them. Patience with others also reminds us that all believers belong to one body. We are not competing but working together for a common cause. Praying for those we tend to be impatient with is good practice. Perhaps God will change our outlook, and we’ll see them and the situation differently.

Ask God for wisdom to develop people patience. After all, he’s patient with us.

Father, as you are patient with me through my faults and failures, help me be with others.

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing in eBook or paperback. If you seek hope and healing because of the hurts you have faced, this book is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

Under God's Wings - Summer Griffin

He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Psalm 91:4 KJV

The smell of coffee didn’t soothe me like usual. I only had twenty minutes left of my free hour and needed at least fifteen of those minutes to drive back to campus from my favorite coffee shop. Why was the barista taking so long? Couldn't she see that I was in a rush?

“C’mon. C’mon,” I mumbled as I checked my phone for the umpteenth time and tried to stop tapping my foot.

A blanket of clouds loomed overhead with the promise of rain. After weeks of nothing, not even a light sprinkling, why did the weather forecast rain during my break? I hate driving in the rain when I can only see a few feet in front of me and have to blindly trust other drivers not to wreck my shoebox of a car. In a college town right next to the beach, finding safe drivers often seems like an impossible task. 

I whispered a prayer. “Lord, please let me get back safely.” But the clouds continued to darken, turning a shade of gray like dove feathers. 

The psalmist doesn’t say what he was hiding from when he ran to God, but his trust in God reminds us that we can always run to God no matter our circumstances.

When we are under God’s wings of protection, we can’t see what storm He shelters us from. But we rely on the promise that He will guide us through all our circumstances. God will cover us with His love and safety; we must trust that truth. How foolish to worry about the rain outside while standing inside His shelter. No storm lasts forever, and when we rest in the shelter of God’s wings, He will carry us to a new and brighter day.

Lord, guide my heart to see Your love and protection in my daily walk with You.

Summer Griffin is a senior college student pursuing a B.A. in Professional Writing. She has taught in children’s Sunday School and Toddler Church. A North Carolina native, she has a deep love for writing, reading, fishing, swimming, and all things family. When she isn’t working or studying, she can be found cheering her brothers on in sports and martial arts.

I invite you to try my newest book, Grits, Grace, and Grands, in eBook or paperback. If you are a grandparent or just want to hear grandparent stories, this book is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

Do You Want It Now? - Martin Wiles

One day when Samson was in Timnah, one of the Philistine women caught his eye. When he returned home, he told his father and mother, “A young Philistine woman in Timnah caught my eye. I want to marry her. Get her for me.” Judges 14:1-2 NLT

The virus taught us we can’t get everything now.

COVID-19 taught the world many things, but in America and other countries, we learned we couldn’t get some things we wanted—not just immediately, but at all. One comical thing that emerged was shaggy hairstyles. Men couldn’t go to barber shops. They weren’t open. If they didn’t know how to cut their own hair—or knew someone who could—they went without a haircut until officials lifted the restrictions and could once again see their barber. 

The same thing happened with ladies. No matter how much they wanted to visit their beautician to get their hair done, they couldn’t. And beauticians couldn’t fix hair at their homes without risking a stiff fine if caught. So, like men, many women went without getting their hair cut, styled, and colored. 

Perhaps the one thing Americans may have wanted immediately but couldn’t have was the chance to dine in at restaurants. We are a generation of “eater outers.” Governors closed restaurants to inside dining. Only drive-thrus and carry-outs were open. 

But wanting things immediately didn’t begin with COVID-19. I grew up long before the virus appeared and before people invented some of our present-day tech advancements. This didn’t keep me from wanting things immediately. Mom said money “burned a hole in my pocket.” When I decided I wanted something, I wanted it right then. But I couldn’t get things immediately or even within two to three days. I couldn’t order something from Wal-Mart (which wasn’t even around) and pick it up from the store the same day. Ordered things usually required waiting six to eight weeks. 

I’m not the only one with this want-it-now problem. I’ve known quite a few people who want what they want immediately. And if they have the money, they get it. I suppose Adam and Eve started the whole thing. They wanted what God told them not to eat, and they ate instantly when Satan offered it to them. 

Samson had the same problem. God set him apart to serve as one of Israel’s judges when everyone did what they considered right. Before taking that role, Samson showed his impatience. His immediate wants came in the form of women—in this case, a Philistine. A tribe God forbade the Israelites to intermarry with. Samson saw her and had to have her. Now. Although God worked through Samson’s misdeeds to accomplish his purpose for Samson—to conquer the Philistines—Samson’s want-it-now attitude often caused him problems. 

Samson struggled with patience, which I often struggle with. Patience might be a virtue, but it takes a lifetime to master it. I’ve discovered that aging, experience, and a lot of difficult times seem to help—none of which I particularly enjoy. Whether God sends the trials or merely allows them doesn’t really matter. The end result—patience—is the same if I respond properly. 

When we’re impatient, we make decisions without guidance, which generally leads us into trouble: debt, unhealthy relationships, and illegal activities. Seeking guidance from God and others takes time, but better experiences result.

A want-it-now attitude can be detrimental to us and others around us. But when we trust God for what we need in life and ask for his wisdom before making decisions, he’ll give us guidance that will ultimately teach us patience and give us a better life. 

Don’t let a want-it-now attitude destroy your happiness.

Father, help me trust you to give me what I need and to give it when I need it. 

Tweetable: What are you now willing to wait on? 

I invite you to try my newest book, Grits, Grace, and Grands, in eBook or paperback. If you are an editor who wants to hone your grammar skills or someone who just wants to improve your writing or speaking, this is the book for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

How Long, Lord? - Martin Wiles

My eyes are straining to see your promises come true. When will you comfort me? Psalm 119:82 NLT

Rachel knew God’s promises but couldn’t help but ask, “How long, Lord?”

Rachel was a young woman with health problems the size of an older person. Degenerative arthritis plagued her joints and back. Several female operations had left her unable to have children. She was fortunate her situation hadn’t turned into cancer. Other surgeries had taken care of a diseased gall bladder and a protruding hernia.

Now, she faced a malfunctioning heart. Her heart flopped and fluttered. Tests revealed severe PVCs. Medicine didn’t seem to help. If doctors didn’t calm them down, they could damage her heart. Through all of her health challenges, Rachel never stopped trusting God, but she couldn’t help but wonder when God's promises to care for her would come true. 

Perhaps Ezra the priest was the author of this lengthy psalm. Unfortunately, he was caught up in the Babylonian captivity. Seventy years would pass before God would raise a new ruler who would allow the people to return to their homeland. Ezra would have the privilege of leading some of them back, but he languished in sorrow for a number of years before he saw God’s promise come true.

I too have meandered through lean periods when I wondered if God had forgotten his promises to me. I’ve never been homeless or had completely bare cabinets, but I have lived in undesirable places and had less to eat than I wanted. Like Rachel, I’ve endured medical issues that seemed to last forever and wondered when God was going to come through with a healing. And though God promises not to let temptations become overbearing, there have been some I didn’t seem to see a way out of.

Though God’s comfort occasionally appears slow in arriving, it always comes—in the correct measure and at the right moment. He never forgets his promises nor reneges on them. He always sends an answer to our prayers, comforts us in our pain, and assures us through our misunderstandings.

Let God’s promises be your stronghold in life’s tough times.

Prayer: Father, we thank You for Your promises that are steadfast and sure. 

Tweetable: Are you asking God "How Long?"

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The Payoff for Persistence - Martin Wiles

And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. Luke 11:9 NLT

The assessment of my writing disturbed me. I didn’t agree. The payoff for persistence appeared small.

One of my goals as a writer was to get on the permanent writing list of several publications. By doing so, editors would contact me regularly and offer me contracts. But the editor of one such publication didn’t, so I contacted him for an assignment. His answer disturbed me. He had looked over my previous submissions and thought I had done a poor job of applying the assigned Bible verses.

Over time, I have learned to respect the opinions of editors—and to deal with their quirks. After all, I am an editor. But I didn’t agree with his conclusion. I had written for many publications and had never had an editor accuse me of poor biblical application. After all, I have a degree in theology and have spent years studying the Bible.

Politely, I emailed the editor back, sharing my concern—and my disagreement with his opinion. I sent him my updated bio so he could see the places I had written for, and I asked him for another chance, which he gave me. I sent in a devotion on spec, and he loved it. Then, he thanked me for pushing back . . . for being persistent. He also loved the devotions I wrote for the new assignment. My persistence paid off.

Persistence in pursuing publication with writing is difficult, but not so difficult as with more serious things in life. Jesus gave a general rule for things we are pursuing: keep asking, seeking, and knocking. This translation shows the continuous nature of the verb He used.

When we’re persistent, we develop patience—whether we know it’s happening or not. Going after something that’s not easily attainable naturally develops this worthwhile trait. Along with our journey toward patience comes the pursuit of trust. Patience and trust go hand in hand. As we patiently wait on God to answer our requests, we learn to trust His timing, which is rarely ours.

Before asking, seeking, and knocking, we must ensure what we pursue aligns with God’s will. My requests in life have often been self-directed. If my request takes me away from God’s will, plan, or principles, He won’t answer regardless of how much I seek, ask, or knock. We may disagree with God, but He always has our best interests at heart.

When our persistence finally pays off with an answered prayer, we experience joy. Joy that we’ve put in the work, joy that we’ve honed our patience, and joy that the God of the universe gets involved in our life.

If what you want or need is in God’s will, go after it with all you have, trusting God along the way.

Prayer: Father, give us the persistence to pursue those things in Your plan. 

Tweetable: How persistent are you? 

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How Long? - Martin Wiles

How long, O Lord, must I call for help? But you do not listen! “Violence is everywhere!” I cry, but you do not come to save. Habakkuk 1:2 NLT

How long will it take to finish this paper?

Writing a research paper once took days, even weeks. After coming up with a topic, I visited at least one library to see if enough resources were available to write on the subject. That meant looking in the card catalog and then using the Dewey Decimal System to locate the books. Then, if enough books existed, I began.

Limits existed on how many books I could check out, so I checked out as many as allowed and as many as I thought I could use in the allotted time. But of course, the entire book didn’t address my topic, so I searched the index of the book to find what I wanted. Then, I took notes on a piece of paper—in my own words, of course.

When it appeared I had enough information from the required resources, which I noted on a separate sheet of paper (after researching how to enter a source), I returned the books. Now came the real work: handwriting it legibly or typing it. I chose typing, which didn’t become an option until I entered the ninth grade.

To type a paper, I had to handwrite it first so everything would appear exactly where I wanted it in the paper. I could not move large or even little chunks of material around. Double trouble. Hopefully, I would not make a big mistake while typing. If I did, I had to retype the entire page.

What it once took me weeks to complete, students can now complete in a few short class periods without ever leaving their desks. With computers, a world of information waits at their fingertips. Magazines, posts, books—all online. And to boot, Word enters the sources correctly. They don’t have to learn much at all. Their “How long?” differs from mine.

Habakkuk asked a “how long” of a different type. God’s people did a poor job of obeying. Sinful acts reigned on every hand. Habakkuk wanted to know how long God planned to let this go on without intervening. God informed the prophet He had things under control.

I’m tempted to ask God the same question. Things in the world look pretty seedy. Sin on every hand. And it doesn’t appear things are getting any better. The good news is that God works behind the scenes. He has a plan in mind and will execute it in His good time. Good will win out in the end. The Bible tells us so.

Our job is to be patient and trust God’s wisdom. He knows what He’s doing. Beyond that, we must shine the light of an excellent example so others can see what a believer should look like. And our good deeds will make this world a better place in the process.

When you’re tempted to ask, “How long?” ask “What can I do” instead.

Prayer: Father, show us what we can do to stem the tide of evil. 

Tweetable: Do you wonder how long God will let evil continue? 

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Walk-on Wednesday - Waiting Patiently - Martin Wiles

Welcome to Walk-on Wednesday. By Hump Day, we are struggling, but we believe a good devotion can strengthen us to finish the week strong. 

Then Abraham waited patiently, and he received what God had promised. Hebrews 6:15 NLT

I’m the king of impatient.

While growing up, one of my parents’ and grandparents’ favorite sayings to me was, “That money is burning a hole in your pocket.” They were right. What little money I earned from allowance, I quickly spent. Interestingly, my wants usually occurred somewhere near my birthday or Christmas. I was cautioned about buying things so close to these special days. “Wait and see if you get it for Christmas or your birthday,” they would say. Rarely did I. As I proudly displayed my new purchase, I often witnessed a sigh. Now they would have to think of something else to get me…or even take back what they had already purchased.

God promised Abraham a son through whom millions of descendants would come. Twenty-five years passed from God’s initial promise to the son’s birth. Abraham’s patience was interrupted by his wife’s impatience. She suggested they hurry God along. She gave her servant in marriage to Abraham as a surrogate mother. God wasn’t pleased, but kept his promise.

People say not to pray for patience because I probably won’t like the methods God uses to develop it in me. Nowadays, I rarely do, but I’ve discovered God uses the methods they were referencing anyway. God manufactures patience in me through life experiences that teach me to wait even though the money still burns my leg.

Though we don’t always appreciate the methods God uses to test and develop our patience, the fact that we allow him to use them demonstrates our trust level. His methods are varied, sometimes illogical, and may seem unending, but he sees end results we can’t. Through his mercy-driven tests, we learn to take things in stride without getting angry, upset, or running ahead of him. And to top it off, he produces spiritual growth and maturity so we can be a spiritual guide to those who follow in our footsteps.

How are you responding to God’s efforts to produce patience in your life?

Prayer: Dear Father, give us the patience needed to allow You to accomplish Your plan in our life. 

Tweetable: Have you learned to wait patiently? 

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Waiting…Not Patiently - Martin Wiles

I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. Psalm 40:1 NLT

I placed the order…and then waited. What else could I do?

What I did do was mark my calendar four weeks into the future. I wouldn’t get impatient until then. Since deliveries of most things took four to six weeks, I waited until the four-week mark to begin marking off days. Occasionally, things arrived sooner. I checked the mailbox daily and huffed when my item didn’t appear.

What I ordered didn’t matter. Books, magazines, articles of clothing, a knife. In my younger days, nothing came overnight or even next day delivery. And patience was never one of my virtues. Age has helped me develop a little more patience, but I still struggle.

Fortunately, technology has solved my problem … or made it worse, depending on how I look at it. If I want a book, I can get it immediately in Kindle form. If I want something else, chances are Amazon—or some other company—can ship it by the next day if I want to pay extra. Since I struggle with patience, I love what technology has done with delivery times.

Seemingly, the psalmist had learned the art of patience, although we aren’t told his attitude as he waited. The attitude we wait with holds as much importance as the practice of waiting itself.

One thing I’ve discovered about God is that He works according to His timetable, not mine. And He normally works on the four-to-six-week schedule rather than next day delivery. I’m sure helping me develop patience is one of His reasons, but there may be myriad others as well.

At the right time, God will lift us from the despair that often accompanies the waiting. What the psalmist doesn’t say is that the lifting is often a process. And often longer than four to six weeks.

God will help us find solid ground. Yet the ground might shake numerous times before the solid ground ever appears.

God also gives us a new song in our hearts. After we have waited. And normally after we have sung a few off-key notes.

Whatever we wait on, God will come to our aid. In His time. In His way. And when He does, we’ll wonder why we had such a difficult time waiting.

Let God teach you the art of waiting…patiently.

Prayer: Father, teach us to wait on You so we don’t mess up Your plan by getting ahead of You.

Tweetable: How's your waiting? 

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